On 27-30 October 2009 the HRFT, the Norwegian and Turkish Medical Associations, the International Federation of Health and Human Rights Organisations, and the World Medical Association hosted a meeting on Health as a Bridge to Peace in the Middle East. The meeting brought together representatives from Health and Human Rights Organisations and Medical Associations from Egypt, Iraq, Israel and Palestine to discuss common issues on the right to health and how health professionals can contribute towards peace in the region. The participating organisations were: Doctors for Iraq Human Rights, People’s Health Movement Egypt, Egyptian Federation of Young Doctors, Palestine Physician Syndicate, Israel Medical Association, Iraqi Medical Association, Physicians for Human Rights – Israel, and Physicians for Human Rights – Palestine (the participant from the Gaza Community Mental Health Centre was unable to leave the Gaza Strip). For the World Medical Association the newly elected president Dr. Dana Hanson and secretary general Otmar Kloiber participated in the meeting.
